This week brings even more evidence that Bill O’Reilly is not a legitimate news source, though this time the Fox shouting head’s reality show tactics were revealed to have once been directed at a then-lowly junior Senator named Barack Obama.

Writing in the Huffington Post, former HarperCollins executive Steve Ross reported an incident that happened all the way back in 2004, when a member of the O’Reilly team ambushed none other than Obama himself, who had just published Dreams from My Father.

During the book signing I stood next to Barack at his table and opened each customer's books to the proper page. Before signing each copy, Barack personally greeted each customer with a handshake and a question or comment. One young man in his late 20's, pale and nervous-looking, stepped up and said, "Why won't you appear on Bill O'Reilly's show?"

Because, the Senator explained, he hadn't been invited to appear on the show. "Do you work for Mr. O'Reilly?"

"Why won't you appear on the O'Reilly show?" the young man asked again, turning sideways. I looked and saw that he was being filmed by his own cameraman. I signaled to security.

After repeating that he had never been invited on to Mr. O'Reilly's show, the Senator, keeping his cool, said that he watched the show and would be glad to appear if invited to do so. At this point two security officers escorted the young man off the podium as he raised his voice and asked over his shoulder, "Why won't you appear on O'Reilly's show? What are you afraid of?" In retrospect this may have been a precursor to the current disaffection between the White House and Fox News, and perhaps the first, albeit minor, gauntlet thrown down.

Four years later, President Barack Obama would be asked to appear on O’Reilly’s program and do so, with grace—a grace that stands in stark contrast to the Punk’d-esque quality of O’Reilly’s initial invitation.

For his part, O’Reilly hasn’t changed much. He’s still sending producers hunting after people who dare criticize him or Fox News, like when he sicked Jesse Watters on Think Progress’ Amanda Terkel earlier this year. Of course, when they’re ambushed and peppered with questions, O’Reilly’s producers turn tail and run.